‘J&K has tapped just 3,540 MW of 18,000-MW hydel power potential’
Though river-rich Jammu and Kashmir has an estimated power potential of 18000 megawatt, of which 14867 megawatt stands identified but 3540 megawatt has been harnessed to date.
Though river-rich Jammu and Kashmir has an estimated power potential of 18000 megawatt, of which 14867 megawatt stands identified but 3540 megawatt has been harnessed to date.
Responding to a query of NC MLA Mubarak Gul, the minister for Jal Shakti, Javed Ahmad Rana, today informed the J& K legislative assembly that J&K has an estimated hydro power potential of 18,000 MegaWatt (MW), of which, 14867 MW has been identified.
Replying on behalf of the chief minister Omar Abdullah, Rana said that the identified potential comprises 11283 MW in Chenab basin, 3084 MW in Jhelum basin and 500 MW in Ravi basin.
He said that out of the identified potential, 3540.15 MW (23.81%) has been harnessed till date including 1197.4 MW in UT sector (under J&K State Power Development Corporation), 2250 MW in Central sector (under NHPC) and 92.75 MW in IPP mode under 31 projects.
Regarding the solar power projects, Rana said that solar power plants with capacity of 41367 and 34300 have been installed in a total of 4648 government buildings and 5463 residential households respectively.
He said that the UT of J&K has an estimated solar potential of 111 GW, most of which is restricted to the UT of Ladakh.
He added that the mega size solar power projects have not been developed in J&K till date as identification of feasible land banks (500 acres for 100 MW solar park) at a single location for its development is difficult because of the topography of the UT.
The Minister informed that, however, a cumulative capacity of 75 MW of rooftop solar power plants has been installed in the UT of J&K across all sectors under various schemes and projects mostly sponsored by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), GoI.
He added that, presently, the rooftop solar power plants are being installed on residential households by DISCOMS under PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojna.
MY Tarigami, Balwant Singh Mankotia, Nizam-ud-Din Bhat, Tanveer Sadiq, Shakti Raj Parihar and Mehraj Malik raised the supplementaries.
